H-1046              _______________________________________________

                                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 667

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Representatives Jacobsen, K. Wilson, Scott, Wang and Wineberry

Read first time 2/8/85 and referred to Committee on Social & Health Services.

AN ACT Relating to child care; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that demographic, economic, and social trends underlie an increased demand for child care services in the state of Washington.  As this need increases, and traditional sources of support such as extended families and government aid are diminishing, there is an urgent need to improve the availability, affordability, and quality of child care services in the state.

          It is the purpose of this act to establish a state child care policy and to foster a partnership between the public and private sectors to implement that policy.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     It is hereby declared to be the policy of the state of Washington to:

          (1) Maintain and support a variety of child care services;

          (2) Recognize and support the primary role of the family in making child care decisions, and encourage parents to participate fully in all phases of planning for and providing of child care;

          (3) Establish and enforce high standards for quality of service, training of child care providers, monitoring of facilities, and safety of children;

          (4) Assure equal access to quality child care services to all families, regardless of income; and

          (5) Promote broad community and private sector support for child care services, as part of a state commitment to families and children.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     (1) The department of social and health services shall undertake a study to evaluate the adequacy of financial assistance to low-income parents with child care needs.  The study shall include but not be limited to evaluation of the following:

          (a) The costs and benefits at various levels of changing the eligibility standards to allow more persons to benefit from existing parent participation day care programs;

          (b) The adequacy of day care assistance provided to working persons who are receiving aid to families with dependent children and participants in job training programs; and

          (c) An assessment of the current prevailing costs of child care which meets state standards.

          (2) The department shall report the results of the study to the legislature by December 1, 1985.